Pencil holder with means to rotate the pencil with respect to the holder incident to use thereof



B. JOHNSON Aug. 30, 1949. R I 2,480,740

PENCIL HOLDER WITH MEANS TO ROTATE THE PENCIL WITH RESPECT TO THE HOLDER INCIDENT TO USE THEREOF Filed April 8, 1947 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 PENCIL HOLDER WITH MEANS TO ROTATE THE PENCIL WITH RESPECT TO THEv HOLDER INCIDENT TO USE THEREOF Reynold B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of York New

Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 739,988

2 Claims. (01. 120-15) This invention relates to pencil devices, and the general object is to provide a pencil device which by proper use maintains its pencil point sharp.

It is generally desirable to maintain a sharp point on a pencil. It is especially desirable for pencils which are used to mark multiple-choice examination papers, shown in Patent No. 2,310,437, for instance, or for marking records such as shown in Patent No. 2,275,396, for instance. These marking pencils use a graphitic lead in order to make conductive marks to be sensed subsequently by electrical elements for purposes disclosed in said patents. It is important that the marks be as conductive as possible. The conductivity of the mark is a function of the continuity of the graphite particles in the mark. Since such continuity is a function of the sharpness of the pencil point, it is important that the point be kept sharp.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of the invention to provide a self-sharpening conductive mark-making pencil device.

According to the invention, the pencil device is made up of two main parts, one of which is a holder and the other of which is a pencil inserted in the holder. Elements on the holder and the pencil coact to rotate the pencil through a fraction of a revolution each time the pencil makes a mark and is thereafter lifted from the paper. The successive actions of making a mark and lifting the pencil may be considered to constitute a pencil stroke. As the pencil is held at an angle and is rotated partially for each of successive pencil strokes, the effect is to produce uniform peripheral wear of the pencil point, which maintains the pencil point cone-shaped, with a substantially sharp point.

It ma be stated that a specific object of the invention is to provide a pencil device which includes a pencil automatically and continually turned concomitantly with and by reason of the.

application of the pencil to its use, so as to maintain a sharp point on the pencil.

A further. specific object of the invention is to provide a pencil device one part of which is a holder and another part of which is a pencil contained in the holder, with elements on the pencil and holder coacting to turn the pencil upon each pencil stroke.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the pencil device when lifted from the paper.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pencil device shown in marking action.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar, partly sectional view showing a modification of the one-way rotating means for the pencil..

Referring to the. drawings, the pencil device has two .main'parts; th hollow holder III, which may be called a barrel, and the pencil I I inserted in the holder. The forward end of holder I0 is formed internally with a circular bead I2 which has beveled sides for a reason made clear later. The pencil II is preferably of a common mechanical type providedwith a rear, detachable cap IIa forced onto a sleeve IIb which is suitably fixed to the screw (not shown) for feeding the lead I3. The force fit of the cap on the sleeve is such that rotation of the cap relative to the pencil barrel rotates the sleeve and the lead feeding screw (not shown). At the same time, the cap Ila is not so tight upon sleeve IIb as to prevent the operator from slipping the cap off the sleeve. The forward portion of the pencil is conically shaped so as to engage the bead I2 for limiting insertion of the pencil into the holder and for providing rotational and swiveling engagement between the pencil and the holder. It is noted that in the inserted position of the pencil, its writing end protrudes from the forwardend of the holder and its rear end protrudes from the rear end of the holder. The pencil is thus positioned so that its writing tip is exposed and so that its cap IIa is accessible for manipulation to feed the lead when necessary.

The holder Ill increases in cross-sectional area towards the rear, the increase in one dimension being greater than in the other, to produce a flaring oval-shaped interior. This shape allows the pencil II to rock about a point of engagement between the pencil cone and the bead I2, with greater rocking motion being possible in the direction of the long axis of the oval crosssection of the holder. Fixed upon the pencil cap Ila is a ratchet I5 formed in its hub with a circular groove I5a. A leaf spring I6 is riveted at I! to a side of the holder which may be called the bottom side. The free end of the spring I6 is in the form of a yoke l6a extending angularly to the length of the'spring. Yoke I 6a is substantially semi-circular. and fits into the groove ia of ratchet I5. The engagement between the yoke [6a and the groove |5a applies the pressure of the spring Hi to the pencil, also opposes free side-wise play of the pencil and releasably retains it in the holder without inhibiting its rotation.

Attached to the rear of holder 10 is an oval band to which the spring strip M is riveted. The free end of strip 2| is bent at an angle to serve as a ratchet pawl 21a. The pawl angle is such that the pawl is not bent excessively by the ratchet teeth, and so is not damaged, when the operator turns the pencil cap Ila to feed the lead.

The pressure of spring 6 holds the conical tip of the pencil against a pivot point 12a on bead I2 and urges the pencil against the side of the holder I B opposite the side to which the spring is riveted. The arrangement allows the pencil to rotate freely within the head 12 and, also, to rock about point 12a, adequate clearance for the rocking action being afforded by the beveled sides of head [2. It should be noted that the friction between the pencil and its bearing, bead I2, is so low compared to the friction between the rotatable lead-feeding parts, including cap Na, and the pencil barrel, that unless the operator restrains rotation of the pencil barrel, the turning of the pencil cap turns the entire pencil. Such turning of the pencil is effected, in amanner described 3:

later, by the action of pawl 2 la on the ratchet 15. For such action, the ratchet is in effect connected rigidly to the pencil barrel. The ratchet could be fixed directly to the pencil barrel but it is preferred that the ratchet be fixed to the pencil cap, so that the cap together with the ratchet may be detached from a faulty pencil and re-used on a good pencil.

In use, the pencil device is held by the operator with the side of holder NJ to which spring I6 is a:

riveted at the bottom. Thus, for convenience, the latter side is called the bottom side and the opposite side is called the top side. When the pencil point is not pressed against the paper, pencil l l is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Pressure applied to the pencil point to make a mark, rocks the pencil about the pivot point 12a to the actuated position shown in Fig. 2. In such action, the ratchet 15 moves down bodily and several of the ratchet teeth slip past the pawl 21a, allowing the pawl to engage the top of a ratchet tooth sever-a1 notches above the tooth previously engaged by the pawl. When the pencil point is lifted from the paper, the spring #6 restores the pencil to its normal position shown in Fig. 1. As this occurs, the pawl bears against a tooth of ratchet '15 to rotate the pencil through approximately degrees. In this manner, as successive marks are made by the pencil, it is rotated to produce uniform peripheral wear of the pencil point. Since the pencil is held at an angle, the result will be that the pencil point will maintain a sharppointed conical shape. With the ordinary pencil, the point will wear flat unless the operator keeps turning the pencil. By the present inven- -=tion, the turning of the pencil is involuntary and requires no attention by the operator other than that he hold the pencil device in the proper position of application to its task.

To remove the pencil H from the holder 1 9, the spring I6 is first depressed to release yoke 16a from groove 15a. of ratchet IS. The pencil is then free to be retracted. Similarly, to insert the pencil, the spring i6 is depressed to allow the pencil to :be moved into the holder. The head 12 engages the conical forward end of the pencil to define the proper inserted position of the pencil, in which position the groove I'5a is in line with the yoke 16a. Hence, when the spring 16 is allowed to rise,.the yoke lfia seats in the groove l5c.

Briefly summarized, the pencil device includes a tube-like holder H] in which a pencil II is mounted for turning and rocking motions and in which the turning is effected by coaction of a pawl Zia. on the holder with a ratchet I5 on the pencil. For each pencil stroke, the pencil is rocked first in one direction and then in the other. The reciprocation of the pencil is translated into rotation by the action of the pawl and ratchet, so that as the pencil is used, uniform peripheral wear of the pencil point results, whereby the pencil point is kept substantially sharp.

The rotation of the pencil, as described, maintains a substantially uniform area of contact between the pencil point and the paper. A good conductive pencil mark requires a high per unit area pressure, that is, one exceeding a certain minimum. Since the area of contact remains substantially uniform the minimum force which must be applied to the point can be determined. The spring against which the pencil rocks has an initial tension such that when the pencil tips to the other side of the holder the force is at least equal to the required minimum force.

It may be noted that the holder l0 may be made by first starting with a cylindrical tube, then cutting diametrically opposite slits Na in the sides of the tube, the slits being cut from points behind the forward end to the opposite end. The portions of the tube separated by the slits may then be spread apart to produce the desired flare of the tube. Thereafter, the reinforcing band 20 will be riveted upon the rear end of the tube. The spring metal strip 2! with its pawl-shaped end 21a. will then be riveted to the reinforcing band and to a side of the tube. The holder tip formed with the bead 12 may be secured in any known manner to the forward end of the tube portion of the holder.

It will be recognized that the pawl 2m and ratchet l5 constitute a one-way drive for rotating the pencil relative to the barrel or holder l9. Other suitable one-way pencil-rotating drives may be used. Fig. 4 for instance, shows a modification of the one-way drive. This modification comprises a rack 30 fixed to one side of the barrel l8. A pinion 3|, meshed with rack 38, is rotatably mounted on the pencil and formed internally with a wedge-shaped slot 3|a in which a :ball 32 is located. It is evident that upon the down stroke of the pencil, caused by the application of pressure to the .pencil point, the pinion 3! will turn clockwise but will not turn the pencil. Upon the return stroke of the pencil, the pinion 3| will rotate counterclockwise and the ball 32 will be wedged into the narrow end of the slot 3i'a and. thus press firmly against the pencil to transmit the rotation of the pinion to the pencil.

It will also be understood that modifications of the rotational and pivotal mounting means for the pencil will readily suggest themselves to the man skilled in the art.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pencil device comprising a generally tubular holder with an open end, a pencil having a point to be applied to a work surface and carried in the holder with the pencil point extending past the open end of the holder, interengaging portions on the holder and pencil mounting the pencil for rotational movement about its axis and for transverse rocking travel relative to the axis, the pencil being normally urged to a position at one limit of its rocking travel from which position it is rockably displaced by pressure of engagement of the pencil point with the work surface and to which position it is restored upon release of said pressure, whereby the pencil performs a forward and return stroke upon successive application and release of pressure on the pencil point, and a one-way drive for rotating the pencil upon each return stroke and including a drive element on the holder and a driven, generally circular element on the pencil idling during the forward stroke of the pencil and effective upon the return stroke to produce partial rotation of the pencil, said interengaging mounting portions comprising an internal circular bead on the holder adjacent its open end and a conical tip on the pencil, said conical tip engaging, behind the pencil point, with the bead to define the inserted position of the pencil in the holder and to provide for the rotational and rockable engage- 6 ward open end of the barrel, so that the pencil tip is outside the forward end of the barrel, the conical tip engaging, behind the pencil point, with said bead to have rotational and rockable coaction with the bead, whereby the pencil is mounted for rotational and rockable movements relative to the holder, a leaf spring attached to an intermediate portion of the barrel and extending freely towards the rear end of the barrel, the free end of the leaf spring being a transversely bent partially circular yoke, a ratchet wheel fixed to a rear portion of the pencil and having a hub provided with a circular groove to receive the yoke on the free end of said spring, whereby the pencil is releasably retained in inserted position and whereby the spring presses the conical tip of the pencil against a pivot point of said bead and also presses the rear portion of the pencil against one side of the barrel, said pencil being rockable about said pivot point towards the opposite side of the holder upon pressure being applied to the pencil point to mark a medium, the release of pressure on the pencil point as by lifting the pencil point from I the medium allowing the spring to rock the pen cil about said pivot point back to its initial position, and a pawl mounted to the rear portion of said barrel for engaging said ratchet wheel to efiect a partial rotation of the pencil during its restoration by the spring to the initial position, whereby the pencil is rotated progressively as successive marks are made, so that uniform peripheral wear of the pencil point results and maintains the pencil point substantially sharp. REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,05 91 Belch r H-.- Oct- 936 

